Control mechanism



H. L. WATSON.

CONTROL MECHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED 050.6, 1920.

1,401,744. Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

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HARVEY LEE W'ATSON, 0F. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 C. M. HALLWLAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

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Specification of Letters Patent. y Patented Dec, 27, 1921,

Application filed December 6, 1920. Serial No. 428,748.

To aZZwwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY LEE WAT- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State oflndiana, have invented a certain new and useful Control Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to the tilting mechanism associated with the headlight construction upon a motor vehicle.

The chief object'of this invention is to provide meansv positioned adjacent the foot board or toe board of a motor vehicle which is adapted to be operated by the foot of the driver of the motor vehicle such that the drivers attention will not be diverted from the driving to the lighting, but may be maintained upon the driving of the vehicle at all times. A n

The chief feature of this invention consists in 'providing` means for maintaining the tiltable headlight construction in the straight-away or forward position, and means for moving the actuating mechanism to the tilted position, andthe maintaining of said actuating mechanism in said position, thereby insuring that the headlight construction will be positively maintained in either of its positions until such time as the driver of the vehicle desiresto change the same from one position to the other position.

Another feature. of the inventionconsists in positioning the actuating mechanism,y ad-V jacent the toeboard of the motor vehicle and4 supporting said mechanism upon the steering post of said vehicle. y

Other features of theinvention relate to the detail construction of the same.

The full nature 0f the vinvention will be understood'from the accompanying 'drawings and the following description and claims. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is 'a side elevational View of the actuating mechanism showing the'same positioned upon the steering post of a motor vehicle and associatedwith the toe board thereof, the housing being sectionalized and broken away to show other parts of the inventionin' detail. Fig. v 2 lis a central sectional view 'of one form of and in some instances thegreiiectors have` beentiltably mounted, one of said lastmentioned constructions being illustrated in the present application and being described in detail in aco-pending application, Serial No. 360,579, ledFebruary 24:, 1920. The present invention, however, lis adapted to be associated with a suitably tiltable headlight construction of any of the Vforegoing types enumerated, Fig. 2 of the drawings being illustrative rather than restrictive in character. v

Heretofore in the art, it 'hasbeen common to actuate or tilt a tiltable 'headlight constructioni by means terminating in the drivers compartment of the vehicle. Some of these actuating mechanisms have been po-` sitioned upon'the dash ofthe vehicle Yand others have been supported upon the steering column, post or` tube in adjuxtaposition to the steering wheel thereof. Thus, all of the mechanisms terminating in the vdrivers compartment have required that the driver operaten the sameby using his hand or hands, requiring the removal of the drivers hand from the steering mechanism to the lighting mechanism, and coincident therewith the diversion of the driversattentionfrom the driving of the vehicle to the headlighting thereof. The present invention seeks to avoid the diversion of the drivers attention from the driving of the vehicle to the headlighting thereof by providing a pedal operated mechanism rather than a hand operated mechanism for actuatinglthe tiltable headlight construction or constructions. The mechanism shown herein is adapted to tilt a tiltably mounted headlight, a tiltably mounted lamp, a tiltably mounted reflector, a tiltably mounted lamp and reflector, or any other tiltably mounted headlight con'- struction without departing from the broad and specific features of the invention.

In the drawings 10 indicates the toe board` or foot board, 11 indicates the steeringcolumn', tube or post extending through said toe board of a motor vehicle. Ar housing member 12 is suitably secured to and adjustable upon the steering post 11 by means hereinafter to be described, and a pedal actuatable rod member 13 is slidably mounted .in said housing 12 and extends through the same. The upper end of said rod extends through an opening 14 in the toe board and terminates adjacent thereto, and said end isprovided with a pad 15 suitably secured to the tree end of said rod land providing'an engageable portion for the operators foot. T he housing 12 is provided with a plurality oi3 projecting bracket portions, such as the arms 16 and 17, which are provided with an engaging and clamping portion. Associated with each of the engaging and clamping arm portions 16 and 17 is a complementary clamping bracket 18 secured to said brackets by the bolts 129. Thus, kthe housing 12 may be adjustably secured upon Vthe steering post 11 and "is rigidly clamped to unl supported upon the 'steering post or tube, which is sta-tionarily `mounted in the present construction. nlhe housing 12 may 'be otherwise lsupported upon the chassis frame or other stationary portion of the vehicle, if desired, or required, without departing from the broader features Vfor fthe invention. Thehousing 12 is provided with depending bracketV portions or plates 20, which plates in the present construction are indicated as being formed integral with the arms 17. The plates 20, therefore, form a channel between the same, since said plates are in spaced relation with each other, and said plates terminate `in the bearings in which is rotatably Emounted the 'shaft or pivot 22. Between theplates'20 and upon the shalt 22 is secured a lever 23, and slidably mounted between said plates is a clevis member 24 connected at one end by the clevis pin or pivot 25 vto the lever 23. vThe other end of the clevis is secured to the actuating rod 13, said rod having an exteriorly threaded end which extends through and beyond the housing 12 into a threaded engagement with the interiorly threaded clevis 24. The actuating rod is thus adapted to be adjustably positionedV inthe clevis 24 and locked'therein by means ot the nut 26. Suitably secured to and tiltable by the rock shaft or pivot 21 isa lever 27, one end of which pivotal'ly supports a reciprocating rod A28. The other endof said redis suitably connected to the'tiltafble headlightconstruotion in such a manner that said headlight construction may be tilted from the tilted position to the forward or straight-away 'position and vice versa Ias desired. l

The invention ,is illustrated as associated with the tiltab'le headlight construction shown in Fig. 2. And in the'present fti'ltable headlight construction associated 4with y'the invention 110 :indicates a headlight casing,

111 a reflector tiltably mounted therein, 112 a post, standard or supporting means associated with the casing and suitablysupported upon a bracket 113 in turn suitably supported by the motor vehicle in any desired manner, such as that illustrated in the copending Yapplication Serial No. 361,335,1iled February 26, 1920 or mounting for headlights.

The tilting mechanism associated with the tiltably mounted reflector comprises a bel-l crank 114iA tiltably mounted in said reflector, the link bar 115 voperatively connected at l'one end to one end of the Ibell crank, and at the other end to the reflector, and a spring 116 having one end stationar'i'ly secured within said casing and the yother lend secured to 'the reflector such that said spring will normally `maintain the tiltable reflector in `the tilted position as indicated'by the full lines in Fig.

2 until such time as the bell crank lever 114 is tilted vor rocked `into the dotted line Yposition to tilt or rock the reliector linte the nontilted, forward or straight-away position. The means for rocking the bell cra-nk l114C to tilt the reflector from the yti'ltabl'eY position to the nontiltable position comprises `a plunger 117 slidably supported by the casing 110 Vand extending through the same such that one end engages the other Vend of the bell crank 114, and the #other `end of said plu-nger is yengaged by means associated with a lever 118. The lever 118 is suitably secured to and *upon a rockshaft 119, which rock shaft is rotatably mounted in the bracket -or lug means 121 secured to the bracket 113,-and in the present insta-nce is illustrated as formed integral therewith. 'The means lfor rocking the shaft '119 comprises a lever 120 suitably secured thereto and connected at one end to the rod 28`l1erein'before described. l-lence movement of the rod 28 through the levers 120 from the full line position to the dotted line position will ymove the reflector lromthe full line position to the dotted Yline position and maintain said reflector in said dotted line Ij oosition'until fsuch time as the yrod 28 is moved `so that the llever 120 is yreturned to the full line position. Y

The means for reciprocating the rod 28 to tilt the reflector 111 is ycontained within the housing v12and is illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and In Fig. l1 the (lull line vlposition of the `par-ts villustrated Acorrespond 4with the full line Yposition of vthe tilting vii'ieclranism associated with the headlight construction and the full line position of ithe reflector; ywhile the dotted line position of the parts illustrated and also the lposition of the parts as indicated in 3 correspond with the dotted line position of the parts killustrated in Fig. 2.

` The particular moans `associated with the rod 13 comprises `a tubular portion 'of the housing 12, 'which tubular port'ioiif is proi Fig.' 23,-v th-elmechaui'smassociated therewlith beiiigflmoved 'tot the 'dotted liney positions indicated in yFigs. 1 andi/32.v i

lVithin, the body portion and supporting.

ige-015744 vided Awithia: threaded upperi -iend .30, :closed :by :a plug member 531 I:I:esteriorly threaded and provided with aicerit'ral .opening,32,3V as shown clearly' in @Fign3which-central lopen- L.ing1s'li'dablyfsuppo'rts theiro'd L 13. i'lhe'rod i113 :is' provided with fa"relievedlportionf33 such that `said :relieved @portion i lis',- adapted -to= cooperate with the:n centralopeni-ng 32 in the plug member soj asl to ilatchthe rod f 13 in the 'depressed position as; illustrated in 'The means"'for= Alinai-ntaininjgthe rodi 1-3 in des-,reid -to` have said-l r-od= returned tof thefull eline; positionv as 'shown inFig.` ='11 comprises a' bolt chamber- '3at `for-medf in-- and@ communi- `'eating' `with the housing 12,2fand in thei pres-v ent instance said bolt'chamber isA pri-ferably Lformed 'fin i"the upper bracket portion 1G,f'tlie end*f-said chamber bein'gclosed byv `an adjustablypositioned plug member 35.*

the 1latched;,position until"suehv timeas itI is 'Also positioned#withinthef'chamber A13 is a pawl or latching bolt 36; saidl pawl- -orbolt having Aa semi-'spherical engaging portion and a hollow cylindrical body portion.

one end thereof is a spring 37, the other end of said spring bearing against the plug member 35, and as hereinbefore described, the tension of the spring member 37 is adjusted by means of the plug member 35. The bolt 36 thus is slidablyvsupported in the recess or bolt chamber 34 and is yield,

ingly forced outwardly f romfthe same into the tubular housing lportion 12 and into engagement with therod 13 such that when 46 the rod 13 is moved tothe depressed position shown in Fig. 3, said pawl or bolt will .lock saidrod in said position, 4dueto the cooperation -of the relieved portion 33 of said rod and the central opening' r32 of the plug member 31. Thus, sideward movementV of the rod 13 will force the bolt or pawl 36 inwardly into the chamber 34 and permit the-rod 13 to bei released from the position in which the same has been latched andV moved to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 by suitable means.

The means for moving vthe rod from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the latching means -lar Aflange .113 'providing the-central lopening 14 therethrough and "lthr'oughrwhich *the threaded portion 'of the frod13 freely' eX- -tends 'Tio :adj ust the tension-off the-'spring L10, suitable-means is providecl,'and infthe prese-ntiinstanceisaid :means is' alsof-provided with cushioning.,V means, thereby serving 2a double "purpose. "Said cushionin-'gj-means and A'tension adjusting f-mea'ns "comprises fa cu'shiening vfasher 4515 suitably V"-siipp'orted ffupon'ai plateoriitting-l,theposition of -said plate or 'fittingbeing-adjusted?,by the t 'same yhaving af'threaded*engagement with tliethreadedportion ofthe i'od'131a'nd beina` ecurednf-saidl positionV by*T means of= the f lockt-nnte? I fT-hus, l whenfthel flock-in 36: -isi moved from `the position shown yin Fig-. to f the :position shownin -Fig. 1,1the'j. sp ring L10r Aforces fth'e'f rod- 1'3 'ffromf-the position `shown iii @Figi '3 to?4 the j position shown in vvFig. 3,1, ianidj-at -thef-endf of.' the '-upward movement iof said-rod, thef cushion 145--engagesiiponfthe fiiiw ard -iiiangetto' not lonlyli-mit 4saidrfm'ovel :mena-ibut tol 'cushion Xthe*sameifsothatl-the loper ation of? the mechanism is i substantially 'noiseless t will, therefore, be understoodthat thel i mechanism may be locked in the straight- ,away, forward or non-tilted position, or

may kbe maintained in the tilted position, and the mechanism for maintaining said aceither of said positions is adapted tobe operated by the ,foot of thel driver ofthe motor vehicle, .thereby permitting said vtufating means hereinbefore rdescribed lin driver to devote his entire attention to the l driving of the vehicle and lighting thereof. Y

The invention ,claimed is:

not to the headrod and having an opening *throughY which the rod extends, anda chamber extending transversely ofthe housing and communi- Aeating therewith, alatching plungeryieldingly supported in' said transverse chamber, said rod having a portion thereof coperating with the openingl in vthe housing to `lock the rod inone position, .and spring,

means within the housing `exerting longitudinal force on saidl rod to, move the same Vwhen released.

QVA" control mechanism` including an ,actuating` rod, a housing surrounding said rodand having antopening through which the rod extends, anda chamber extending. transversely of the housing and communicating therewith, a latching plunger yield-v ingly supported in said transverse chamber, said rod having a portion'y thereoficoperating with the opening in the housing to lock the rod in one position, spring means within the housing exerting longitudinal force on said rod to move the same when isov 1. A ,controle mechanism including `an f actuating rod, fa housing surrounding said released, and Ameans upon the rod coperating with the housing for adjusting the tension of the s irincr means.

3. A. control mechanism including an actuating rod, a housingsurrounding said rod and having an opening through which the rod extends,V and aY chamber extending transversely of the housing and communicating therewith, a latching plunger in said transverse chamher,` yielding means 4for said plunger and positioned'in said transverse chamber, adjusting means associated with said yielding means for adjusting the tension the rod extends, and a chamber extending transversely of the housing and communieating therewith, a latching plunger in said transverse chamber, yielding meansfor said plunger andpositioned in said. transverse spring.

chamber, adjusting means associated with said yielding means for adjusting the tension of the plunger yielding means, said plunger latching said rod in the locked position, spring means Within the housing exerting ai longitudinal force on said rod to move the same when'released, and means upon the rod and cooperating with the housingy for adjusting the tension of said spring means.

5. A control mechanism including anfu actuating rod, manually engageable means upon one end of said rod, other means upon the other end of said rod, 'for actuation puroses a s rin for normali? forcino` said Y40l P a P g l e rod in one direction, yielding jmeans cov'V operating with said rod to latch the same in one direction and the spring under tension, cushion means associated with said rod for cushioning the movement of said rod upon the actuation thereoic by the spring, andl means for simultaneously adjusting the travel of said rod and the tension or' said In witness whereof, I have hereunto afxed my4 signature. Y M

HARVEY LEE WATSON. 

